RE: Losing my profession? or pioneering?

[Barbara Hubert <BHubert -at- Fincentric -dot- com>]

I would like to put in my THREE CHEERs for Andrew's comments on the idea
that we are "technical" writers.... i can't tell you how many times, i've
had that argument.... there seems to be an incredible divide among technical
writers on this element of our profession....

i've also had the privilege of working in a highly technical environment
under someone who was a "frame" expert but had no comprehension of the
technology nor could that person guide me in writing principles such as
organization, audience analysis, genre considerations, etc., ....one of the
most frustrating experiences i ever had....

i think the reality is that we are not so much "losing" an old profession,
but are really pioneering a burgeoning profession.... the academic programs
that have evolved over the past 5 years to directly address the lack of
adequately functional "technical" writers is both testament and
astounding....

and i have found that you can demonstrate value better than evangelize it...
i have yet to go into an organization that didn't go "wow" a systematic
process driven approach to documentation ... that includes user interface
considerations, resourcing, budget constraints, risks, scope, etc., etc.,...
just like any other PROJECT within an organization....and you can write
reasonably decent prose oh my goodness ....tends to make it difficult to
beat the head hunters off sometimes...demonstrating employment security
versus job security

currently i work as the managing writer of a best practices group....
initially there was considerable up hill management ...but i now work with
an enlightened executive ...there executives will take that re-aligned view
with them where ever they go for the rest of their careers .....

i just love being a pioneer


barbara hubert
managing writer
best practices @
Fincentric 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

*** Deva(tm) Tools for Dreamweaver and Deva(tm) Search ***
Build Contents, Indexes, and Search for Web Sites and Help Systems
Available now at http://www.devahelp.com or info -at- devahelp -dot- com

Sponsored by Information Mapping, Inc., a professional services firm
specializing in Knowledge Management and e-content solutions. See
http://www.infomap.com or 800-463-6627 for more about our solutions.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit 
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.